The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island

About

"The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island" is a top-down adventure game with nostalgic 16-bit style graphics and music, available on multiple platforms. Explore a small island and a large dungeon, battle numerous monsters, and discover hidden paths with the use of bombs. The game includes a second island and dungeon, with a future sequel in the works featuring a larger overworld, towns, and dungeons.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island screenshot

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

music2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic SNES games.
The soundtrack is enjoyable and adds to the overall experience, enhancing the nostalgic feel.
The game is forgiving, with a user-friendly interface and co-op gameplay that adds to the fun.

The game is extremely short, with many players finishing it in under 20 minutes, leaving them wanting more content.
The controls can feel clunky, and the weapon range is limited, making combat less satisfying.
There is a lack of substantial items and upgrades, which diminishes the overall gameplay experience.

gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The gameplay features a beautifully crafted island environment with swimming mechanics, a variety of enemies, and collectible items, reminiscent of classic titles like "Link to the Past." While some players wished for more impactful items, the game is recommended for those who enjoy short and simple experiences.
- “Furthermore, after going through the opening dialogue, I was greeted with a beautifully handcrafted island complete with swimming mechanics, a variety of enemies, and items to obtain.”
- “It had the basic mechanics that you expect from 'The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'.”
- “There are a few secrets to find, and although I would have liked to find some items that more substantially impacted the gameplay, I would still recommend this game to fans of short and simple game experiences.”
- “It had the basic mechanics that you expect from 'Link to the Past'.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its pleasant retro vibe and nice soundtrack, complementing the Zelda-like experience. While the game is short and simple, the soundtrack enhances the exploration of its two maps.
- “A short and simple Zelda-like with a nice soundtrack and two maps to explore.”
- “It's got a pleasant retro vibe, and the music isn't terrible.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are highly praised, with users noting their quality and overall appeal.
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The story aspect of the game is largely underdeveloped, with only a brief introduction and minimal narrative elements present throughout gameplay, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement.
- “There's a tease of a story - particularly in the manual - but I didn't see any sign of it other than the opening frame or two.”
- “The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected a rich storyline, but instead, I was left with a series of bland and unengaging plot points.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity, highlighted by the long trek to a simplistic dungeon that culminates in an unexpectedly anticlimactic ending, which adds a comedic twist to the overall experience.
- “It's a 3-4 screen walk to a dungeon, and the extremely simplistic dungeon itself leads to a hilariously anticlimactic end screen.”
- “The humor in the game is spot on, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with funny character interactions and ridiculous quests.”